The timing on this is a bit poor as due to the freeze on the program I had to re read this to be sure if it was talking to the people mad about the proposed student loan forgiveness program or people mad about loan forgiveness because they are in hard financial shape and received notice they qualified but can’t currently collect relief until the court battles are done- IF the program survives the challenges.
That said- being mad other people are getting help is silly in general- people who get upset at welfare or programs to help home the homeless or find jobs for ex convicts and such. I generally say to people who say things like “it’s not fair I have to work and they get to live off welfare..” or “I can’t find a job but a criminal gets placed by the government..?” You can always go fuck your life up enough to qualify for those things too if it’s so sweet. The fact more people don’t tells you deep down they probably don’t think it really is so great.
That said the common concept of student loan forgiveness often fails to address certain issues of access and privilege while continuing in the tradition of a system which offers help to those who come from or are in a generally better socioeconomic position.
Of course we can’t offer checks or something to every person who says they “totally would have gone if they had the money/could get a loan”- but there are people in that category who didn’t get a degree and now lack the advantage if this other group whom by default can be said to have certain advantages as evidenced by the fact they were able to get loans and degrees where others couldn’t or couldn’t navigate the system.
So I will say it is a tad nuanced but like many issues, almost anyone who benefits and almost anyone who has no reason to fear any negative impact would support it because it ticks the right boxes.
To be clear I am not saying I am against student loan forgiveness, but I am saying it can be discussed.
"It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a ‘dismal science.’ But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance."
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· 2 years ago
Well, for people who believe taxation is theft by communism this must be kinda hard to swallow.
That said- being mad other people are getting help is silly in general- people who get upset at welfare or programs to help home the homeless or find jobs for ex convicts and such. I generally say to people who say things like “it’s not fair I have to work and they get to live off welfare..” or “I can’t find a job but a criminal gets placed by the government..?” You can always go fuck your life up enough to qualify for those things too if it’s so sweet. The fact more people don’t tells you deep down they probably don’t think it really is so great.
Of course we can’t offer checks or something to every person who says they “totally would have gone if they had the money/could get a loan”- but there are people in that category who didn’t get a degree and now lack the advantage if this other group whom by default can be said to have certain advantages as evidenced by the fact they were able to get loans and degrees where others couldn’t or couldn’t navigate the system.
So I will say it is a tad nuanced but like many issues, almost anyone who benefits and almost anyone who has no reason to fear any negative impact would support it because it ticks the right boxes.
To be clear I am not saying I am against student loan forgiveness, but I am saying it can be discussed.